US president appoints special envoy for Ukraine's economic recovery
Penny Pritzker. Photo: Getty Images
US President Joe Biden appointed the former Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, as a special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery.
Rubryka reports, citing the US Embassy, that the new position shows that the Biden administration is concerned about the long-term economic survival of Ukraine despite the ongoing war with Russia.
In his statement, Biden said that Pritzker would "drive the United States' efforts to help rebuild the Ukrainian economy," working with the government of Ukraine, US allies, international financial institutions, and the private sector.
"As an accomplished public servant, former Secretary of Commerce, and transformative industry leader — with deep familial ties to Ukraine — Special Representative Pritzker brings decades of experience and expertise to this critical position," the US president said.
"Special Representative Pritzker will also work with Ukraine's other international partners, including via the G7 coordination platform, to ensure that international efforts are complementary and mutually reinforcing, as well as to encourage international partners to keep stepping up their support for Ukraine's immediate economic recovery needs," the statement added.
Pritzker, 64, will promote investment strategies in Ukraine and attract public and private investment from other countries, according to one senior administration official, who spoke to NYT earlier on condition of anonymity because the appointment was not yet official.
In the coming weeks, she plans to visit Ukraine to assess the state of its economy and meet with political and business leaders. The White House announced Pritzker's appointment on Thursday. She will work at the State Department, reporting to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
US aid to Ukraine
The US has pledged to provide $9.9 billion in grants to Ukraine's budget in 2023, while the EU will provide €18 billion in macro-financial assistance as soft loans.
Next year, Ukraine needs $12 billion to $14 billion in financial aid from the United States, as budget spending remains high amid the Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian State Budget will receive a grant of $1.25 billion from the World Bank project "Supporting public expenditures to ensure sustainable public administration in Ukraine" (PEACE in Ukraine).
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